I was robbed in Colombia. There I said it. And no, I don’t mean some store charged me an extra 500 pesos for a glass of juice. I mean robbed in the most literal sense; two teenagers, two knifes, one less cell phone, and 100,000 less pesos.

This is an article I’ve put off writing for a while because I didn’t want to demonstrate the ugly side of Colombia. However, I feel an obligation to warn people about the dangers that are here, and advice them on how to stay safe.

The Scenario

It was 11:30pm on a Friday night and I was walking an Italian friend of mine home down a popular street in Medellin, Calle 33. We were done drinking, and I didn’t want her to walk home alone. Her place was only about 5 blocks away, so we opted to walk instead of taking a cab.

About two blocks away from the bar that we were in was an overpass, and a part of Calle 33 that was more rundown. As soon as we got to this part of the street my “spidey-senses” started to tingle, and I knew we were not in a place we should be. There were people passed out on doorsteps, not much light, and there was no one around that would resemble someone you’d want to hang out with.

About 20 seconds after my “spidey-senses tingled” I felt a hand on my left shoulder, and I heard the boy behind me say something in Spanish. I didn’t understand what he had said, so I asked him to repeat himself. Until now, I quite honestly thought he was just looking for the time or a few coins. That’s when he and his friend flashed their shiny knifes. This made it very obvious that they were not looking for the time, at least not unless it came in the form of my cell phone (which they did take.)

I handed over all my money. They asked for my cell, so I handed it over as well. They kept asking for “my other cell”, but I’m not in the habit of carrying two cells on me. After they realized they had what they wanted from me, they moved on to my Italian friend. They demanded her cell and money. When she was fumbling (out of nerves) for her cell, they told her to just hand over the entire bag, which she did.

The two teenaged thieves took off quickly around the corner after they had acquired what they were looking for. This is when we jumped in the nearest cab, and told the driver what had happened. He drove around for a bit looking for help, but it was of no use. The thieves were gone, along with our stuff.

What We Did Wrong

Of course it’s not the victims fault, but in Colombia, as in many places around the world, you need to be cautious. The saying for this in Colombia is “dar papaya,” which literally means “to give the papaya.” Here’s what we did wrong:

1. We shouldn’t have been walking where we were, when we were.

2. We didn’t look for an exit from a place where we shouldn’t have been in the first place.

What You Can Do To Prevent This From Happening

1. If you do not know the route you are taking home is safe, take a cab. The safest way is to call a cab, or have someone call one for you.

2. Never walk at night in places where you are alone.

3. If you arrive in a place where you don’t feel comfortable, exit it immediately, in any way possible.

What To Do If You Are Robbed

Hand over everything you have. Don’t try and be a hero. The fact is, that many of these thieves are ready and willing to use their weapons. You don’t want to lose your life, or be seriously injured over a few simple possessions.  Don’t struggle. Don’t yell for help. Just give them what they want, and they’ll be on their way, as will you.

My experience of being robbed in Colombia was not a pleasant experience. If this article can help prevent even one person from the same fate, then I am glad I have written it. I don’t want to scare you away from coming to Colombia. I love this country; even after the robbery. I just want you to be aware that caution is needed. Most of my friends have never been robbed. Take care out there, and you’ll have a blast.

Click here if you want to ensure that I’m safe, and want to read about more upbeat stories from Colombia.

I’m sure the above view was the exact same view that they saw when building the convent in the 17th century.  And you thought the pyramids were incredible!

I took many photos of the arches surrounding the courtyard here.  Truly a photographer’s (or amateur blogger’s) paradise.  So many angles to capture the plants, arches, and well.

My money in good use.  As you can see I wasn’t the only one supporting the noble cause.

That night I went to Cafe Havana for a little rum, a little dancing, and a lot of fun.  I loved the decor here.  Maybe it was the rum, but I felt like I was in Cuba.  Probably the rum.

And here are my Argentinean friends.  Believe it or not, Damian is not as drunk as he looks.  All for the camera.

And I’m off to Carnaval de Barranquilla.

Abrazos.

A beautiful courtyard in front of the Santo Domingo church.  It used to be used as a courtyard to auction off slaves.  I like its current use much better.  Sitting and drinking Colombia’s largest (legal) export in the shadows of its antique coastal city architecture is truly fantastic.  Add on top of this some fine literature from one of the city’s most famous residents, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and you have a truly Colombian experience.  I’m glad that I have been reading El Amor en los Tiempos de Colera before I arrived here.  It gave me a flavour for times passed, and a cultural context of the city.  While here I am able to enjoy walking the streets that were the setting for this beautiful novel.

As I was exiting the Old City in order to go back to my hotel I encountered this very lively troupe of dancers and drummers.  So much energy and passion in their performance.  The tagline for the Colombian Tourism Board is “Colombia es Pasion”.  I would definitely agree with this statement.  There are some lyrics to a song by Latino hip hop band Calle 13 that go like this “No tengo mucha plata, pero tengo cobre.  Aquí se baila como bailan los pobres.”  Essentially, “I don’t have much money (literally: silver,) but I have tenacity (copper.) Here you dance like the poor dance.”  I think these lyrics apply here.

Abrazos.

Cartagena’s Antigua Ciudad (Old City) is an Unesco World Heritage site.  From the following pictures I’m sure you’ll see why it was given this honour.  It’s one of the best preserved colonial cities in South America, and the most visited city by foreigners, and Colombians in Colombia.  The above picture is the Torre del Reloj or Clock Tower entrance to the old city.

The entire old city is surrounded by a fortified wall that protected the city from all kinds of invaders.  From the Spaniards to pirates the city has seen all kinds of attacks.  Amazingly it not only stands, but shines.

The streets of Cartagena remind me of New Orleans.  The architectural stylings of the buildings, the narrow streets, and the bright colours all resemble the fabulous Crescent City of the Mississippi.  Unfortunately it doesn’t have the same music scene that New Orleans has, but in reality, what city does.  In many ways it resembles the history of New Orleans, as well for it was a major New World port that was widely contested by the powers of the Old World.

I’m currently reading the book “El Amor en los Tiempos de Colera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  It’s set here in Cartagena, and walking the streets here has given me a better understanding of the setting of the book.  It clarifies my mind’s eye on some of the scenes.  The colours, heat, and streets are now more alive for me.

A replica pirate ship that you take for a night tour on weekends.

Statues of Los Pegasos with the clock tower in the background.  Perfect time of day for pictures.

This is a picture of Bocagrande, which is the area where most of the rich Colombians, and foreigners reside.  Yes, it looks slightly different than the Old City.  Walking through these towers feels like you’re in a completely different city.

Abrazos.